CI 


Duke  University  Libraries 

The  Alabama  cot 
Conf  Pam  #774 

DTTOblOmU 


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THE 


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ALABAMA  COTTAGE. 


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A  HOMELY  SCENE. 


The  Alabaniian  sat  by  the  chimney  side — 

His  face  was  wrinkled  and  worn, 
And  he  leaned  both  hands  on  his  stout  oak  cane. 

As  if  all  his  work  was  done. 

His  coat  was  of  good  old-fashioned  gray, 

The  pockets  were  deep  and  wide. 
Where  his  "  specs"  and  his  steel  tobacco  box, 

Lay  suugly  by  his  side. 

The  old  man  liked  to  stir  the  tiro, 

So  near  him   the  tongs  were  kept; 
Sometimes  he  mused  as  he  gazed  at  the  coals, 

Sometimes  he  sat  and  slept. 

What  saw  he  in  the  embers  there  ? 

Ah  pictures  of  other  years. 
And  now  and  then  they  awakened  smiles. 

But  oflener  started  tears. 

He  thought  of  his  kindred  now  abroad, 

Battling  for  home  and  right ; 
And  the  noble  band  of  southern  men  • 

Defying  the  tyrants  might. 

His  good  old  wife  sat  on  the  other  side, 

In  a  high-back,  flag-seat  cliair, 
I  see  'neath  the  pile  of  her  muslin  cap, 

The  sheen  of  her  silvery  hair. 

There's  sorrow  now  on  her  aged  face, 

As  she  sits  and  knits  for  him, 
And  Nelly  takes  up  the  stitches  dropped, 

For  grand-mother's  eyes  are  dim. 

She  weeps  for  her  grandson  now  in  the  fight, 
Though  perchance  he  may  come  again  ; 

She  mourns  for  her  country  by  Northmen  oppressed, 
And  thousands  so  wickedly  slain. 

Their  children  come  and  read  the  news,  '-*; 

•  To  pass  the  time  each  day, 
How  it  stirs  the  blood  in  the  old  man's  heart, 
To  hear  of  the  war  away. 

'Tis  a  homely  scene,  I  told  you  so, 

But  sad  it  is  to  view  ; 
At  least,  I  thought  it  so  fnyself, 
And  sketched  it  down  for  you. 


C-. 


m 


Hollinger  Corp. 
pH8.5 


